Christmas Angels

I couldn't believe that I had ladies fighting over these angel decorations at the Stocking Stuffer stall, and I got orders to make more!  So I thought I'd share the idea so you can make some too (although it might be a bit late for this year)!


Requirements:
Wooden 'dolly' pegs
Pipe cleaner
Paint - for body and face
Felt tip pens to draw face
Angel wings (available from craft shops)
Wire-edged ribbon
Silver cord/thin ribbon
Hot glue gun

Paint the peg body (I used a light blue) and head (I used a country cream - although the heads aren't painted in the picture above!)  Use a piece of thick cardboard to hold the peg while you paint it.

Draw a face with coloured felt-tip pens, or use a thin permanent marker
Cut a piece of wire-edged ribbon, and gather the wire on one side so that it fits around the 'waist' of the peg.  Twist it together and secure to peg with hot glue.

Glue the wings to the back of the peg, and then add a hanging loop to the back of the head.  Make a halo from sparkly pipe cleaner, thread it over the hanging loop and secure with more hot glue.

Since you've got all your equipment out, create a 'company of angels'!

Mod Podge Decorative Tiles

I've been making some more decorative tiles and thought I'd share a few more pictures in this tutorial.

Items needed:

• Mod Podge (available from art and craft stores, online, Spotlight, Lincraft, etc)
• Tile (or a surface to stick paper onto)
• Photo or paper to stick
• Sponge brush
• Flat container

First of all, make sure your tiles are clean and dry.  I am using 15x15cm recycled tiles that I picked up at a scrap yard.

You can print your own design or use photos for this project.  I printed in black ink on scrapbooking paper, and also printed in colour on photo paper.

Pour a small amount of Mod Podge into the flat container.  Using the sponge brush, cover the tile in a layer of Mod Podge.  This acts as the glue to stick your paper to the tile.

Carefully place your design onto the tile.  I cut mine so that there was a white border all around.

Allow to dry for about 30 minutes.  Using the sponge brush, paint another layer of Mod Podge over the top of the picture. It will appear cloudy at first, but it dries clear.This is the sealer which will protect your picture. If you would like a 'canvas' appearance, allow this coat to dry and then brush on another coat in the opposite direction.

Allow to dry completely.  Display either with a plate stand or attach a ribbon hanger to the back of the tile.

Stencilled bibs

Here's a cool, easy gift that you can make with no sewing at all!


You need:

• Freezer paper (this is available from some quilting shops or online.  It is sold like cling wrap in the USA, but not widely available in Australia)
• Fabric to paint on (I've used plastic-backed bibs from Target & K-mart)
• Fabric paints (I've used paints mixed with textile medium by Jo Sonja)
• Sponge brush/stencil brush
• Iron
• Pencil
• Craft knife & cutting board

First of all, draw or trace your design on the paper side of the freezer paper. Cut it out with a craft knife.

Then, using a warm iron, fix the freezer paper stencil onto your fabric.  Place the stencil waxy side down and cover with a cloth (to protect your iron), and then press until the paper has adhered to the cloth.


Mix your paints and using a sponge brush, paint onto the stencil.

Allow the paint to dry, and then carefully peel away the stencil to reveal your design! (This is the exciting part!)

Iron over the design to fix your fabric paint.

Felt Christmas Tree

Here are some instructions to make this cute felt Christmas Tree!

What you need:
Coloured felt
Felt scraps
Embroidery thread
Polyester stuffing
Cardboard


1. Cut the felt into a cone shape with two straight edges and one curved edge.  My tree has sides measuring 22cm.  Cut the felt scraps into small circles about 1cm in diameter.

2. Attach the felt dots onto the tree body using a small cross stitch.  Make sure you secure the threads on the wrong side of the felt.  Decorate your tree as much as you like!

3. Pin the two long sides together (inside out) and sew either by machine or hand.  Turn the tree the right way out.

4. Cut a felt circle and two cardboard circles for the base of the tree.  An easy way to do this is to fill the tree with stuffing, and then find a cup that matches the size of the base of the tree.  Trace around the cup to get the right size circle.  Whip stitch the base to the tree, inserting the cardboard to create a firm base for the tree to stand on (see picture).

5. Finish sewing up the base and you're done!

Mini Felt Christmas Stocking

Another Christmas ornament which can be hung on the tree or attached to a present as a little 'extra'!  With this mini stocking, you can also give an extra gift - lollies, some rolled up cash, or perhaps some diamond jewellery(!).


Here's my stocking in a few simple steps:


1. Cut a template out of paper.  I folded my paper into eight and cut out eight templates at the same time.


2. Pin templates to a double thickness of felt.  (ie - two pieces, or one piece folded over)

 3. Sew around the templates as close as possible.  Remember to keep the top of the stocking open.  Remove pins.

4. Cut around the stitching leaving a small (3-5mm) seam allowance.  Turn stocking inside out.

5. Attach a ribbon at the back of the stocking, and hand-stitch a cuff to the stocking.

6. Fill with diamond jewellery (or other treats).

Rose Petal Ornament

Here's what you'll need to make this beautiful ornament:

• Styrofoam ball (I used a 70mm ball)
• Artificial rose petals
• Hot glue gun & glue sticks
• 2 sewing pins
• 30-35cm satin ribbon

First, glue one petal to the styrofoam ball.  This will be the top centre of the flower.

Start attaching rose petals, overlapping them as you move the ball around.  Try and work in circles, starting from the top and moving downwards.

 

Ensure that the petal at the base of the ball is glued in place completely.

Attach the ribbon using two sewing pins.  Put them in place and try hanging the ball to ensure you have the ribbon centred.  When you are happy with its placement, put some hot glue over the pins and ribbon to stick them in place.

Cut a small slit in an extra petal and thread the ribbon through it, pushing the petal right down onto the ball to hide the pins.  Glue in place.

Felt Heart Tutorial

I'd like to share a few tutorials on the site just in case you're inspired to make something for someone this Christmas!


Here are some instructions for a felt heart ornament:

Cut out two heart shapes from felt.  Add the decorative stitching: I used 4 strands of embroidery thread and a running stitch in two different colours.
Attach a button to the middle of the heart.

Cut a ribbon approximately 30cm.  Place felt hearts wrong sides together and whip stitch around the outside, sewing the hearts together.  Make sure you sew in the ribbon when you get to the top centre of the heart.  Leave a gap to insert filling.  I like to use Polyester Fibrefill.


Sew up the gap and knot the end of the thread.

Try them in lots of different colours!